The SUNY Oswego campus is just within the 10-mile zone of the nuclear plants at Nine Mile Point, east of the college in the town of Scriba. Federal regulations require that counties that are home to nuclear power plants prepare emergency response plans for the area within a 10-mile radius of the plants. Oswego County has such an emergency response plan through its Emergency Management Office.

Every year the county distributes a booklet of information about the plan to residents of the 10-mile zone, including our students. We encourage everyone in our college community to read it and become familiar with it. This summary of actions that you may be required to take in the event of an emergency comes from Oswego County's plan.

University Police will be responsible for coordinating the college's response in the event of an emergency. Instructions about what actions people on campus should take in a particular emergency will come from them. We are advised that there is little likelihood of an emergency being so acute that seconds or even minutes are critical; therefore, there should be time for you to follow the directions issued by University Police in a calm and orderly fashion.

How you will be notifiedSirens designed for this purpose will notify area residents, including the college community, of a nuclear emergency. These off-campus sirens will sound for about three minutes. The college also will send messages via the NY-Alert system, mass emails, broadcast loudspeakers on some campus buildings and digital signage. If you hear the siren and/or receive the alert, you can get information about the emergency by tuning a radio or television to an Emergency Alert System station. Primary Emergency Alert System stations are:

WSYR AM 570

WSYR FM 106.9

WHEN AM 620

WYYY FM 94.5

WBBS FM 104.7

WWHT FM 107.9

WSTM - TV Channel 3

Other stations expected to carry Emergency Alert System messages are:

WRVO FM 89.9

WNYO FM 88.9

WTVH - TV Channel 5

WSYR - TV Channel 9

WNYS - TV Channel 43

WSYT - TV Channel 68

YNN - TV Channel 10 (Time Warner cable only)

Actions you may be instructed to take

The types of actions you may be asked to take include:

ShelterIf you are asked to take shelter, that means:

Stay indoors.

Close all outside doors and all windows and then stay away from windows.

Stay tuned to Emergency Broadcast stations and await further instructions from University Police.

Do NOT use the telephone, except in the case of a special emergency, so that the phone lines do not overload.

EvacuationIf you are instructed to evacuate:

Remain calm.

Plan to be gone at least three days and take with you any needed personal items.

If you have a vehicle, we encourage you to take as many other people as you can. Unless contrary directives are issued by University Police, leave campus on Route 104 and head west. Close the windows and air vents in your vehicle and do not operate the air conditioner until you have left the emergency zone. It is recommended you proceed to the reception center at the New York State Fairgrounds for registration and or radiological monitoring of yourself and your vehicle.

If you do not have transportation, proceed to the Campus Center parking circle and await the arrival of buses. All buses will take riders to the reception center at the New York State Fairgrounds north of Syracuse where you can either wait for someone to pick you up or be provided lodging at a congregate care center from there.

After evacuation, the campus will be officially closed until the emergency is over and public notice of reopening is given. The campus will be patrolled to prevent looting, fires, etc.

If there is an emergency, please stay calm and follow instructions.

Evacuation for individuals with mobility impairments

In the event of an emergency situation that requires the evacuation of a building, the fire alarm will sound. In these situations, elevators will not be in service. Occupants of the building will evacuate through the stairwells.

People who are not able to leave by using the stairs should go to, or into, an enclosed stairwell and wait for assistance. Some stairwells are large enough that a person using a wheelchair can remain on a landing without blocking the exit of others. Some stairwells will not accommodate a wheelchair while others are exiting. If the stairwell is large enough or if others have already cleared the level of the landing, move into the stairwell. If you are at a narrow stairwell, please wait for others to clear the floors above you before moving into the stairwell.

If you are carrying a cell phone, please call 315.312.5555 immediately to alert University Police to your location and situation. If you do not have a cell phone, tell other people to notify the responding emergency personnel about your location and need for assistance as soon as they exit.

Safety is a consideration best addressed through proactive planning. Be conscious of your surroundings. Look for your closest exits before the time that you might need them. Look for alternate routes to safety. Let other people know in advance that you may need assistance in the event of an emergency.